Vice President Kashim Shettima has unveiled 222 compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicles in Kano State as part of efforts to reduce transport expenses and promote cleaner energy adoption across Northern Nigeria.
The launch event, held at the Sani Abacha Stadium Indoor Sports Hall, featured a mix of 15 buses—comprising 10 CNG-powered and five bi-fuel units—alongside seven electric vehicles and 200 CNG tricycles. The rollout falls under the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (PI-CNG & EV).
Speaking on behalf of the Vice President, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, explained that the programme is designed to strengthen economic resilience and improve competitiveness by lowering transportation costs that contribute significantly to food inflation and business expenses nationwide.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s vast gas reserves, noting that the country holds over 200 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, which should help reduce dependence on costly conventional fuel sources.
Kano State was described as a strategic starting point for the northern deployment due to its position as a major commercial hub connecting markets across Northern Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
The initiative received further backing from Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, who described it as a significant step toward easing transportation challenges and creating employment opportunities. He added that the state government is supporting investors by providing land for gas and electric mobility infrastructure.
According to the PI-CNG EV programme coordinator, Ismaeel Ahmed, the initiative now spans 28 states, supports 58 refuelling stations, and has trained over 7,000 Nigerians in vehicle conversion and technical services within the past 20 months. He also disclosed that the programme has attracted investment commitments exceeding $2 billion.
He added that the expansion of the programme signals long-term commitment to cleaner transport solutions across the country.
